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Almost There...
Dec. 23rd, 2008 10:58 amThis is my first Christmas while blogging. As some of you may know, my family started officially celebrating the holiday two years ago. We started buying presents in an organized manner last year. There are many and varied reasons why this was not a family tradition until now. Basically, we were humorless Baptists, or influenced by the like. Not really, if there is one thing my family has, it's a sense of humor. (The baptist thing is true, though) We still are, technically, but we're getting out in the world in ways we could not before.
Enough about tradition! Let us examine the present. I am still finishing the dang afghan, not much progress since last time I wrote. I have finished my Christmas shopping. All that is left is the wrapping. The thing about buying presents: it's a crapshoot. You could go and buy something on the list they have published, or you could be creative and try to match their tastes without getting them something they expect. I do the first, mostly. Dad does the second. Getting something people love is hard, getting them something they hate is about the same, the middle of the road ("Oh, that's nice") is the easiest to attain.
Gifts are not the end-all and be-all of the season, and treating them as such is folly. But if they aren't, what is?
I realize some people don't like their family. My older sister can only stand us for a few days before retreating to her home four hours away. However, what is life without relationships? The group, herd, pack, family is the reason any human is alive today, and on some level we know that. It is our nature to be with others, and so we celebrate that in the middle of winter, when we really need a pick me up. That's my interpretation of this crazy ritual, anyway. I refuse to be overly stressed out about cookies, dinner, or presents. The traffic (so many people!) is what kills me.
My sister is coming in tonight, rather late. That is her tradition. It goes along with one holiday with her family, the other with her fiance's. We have plans. The parents are going to Florida. There may be lots of fun, cooking, movies, etc. Or this could get rather stressful. We will see. I have many 'escape' plans at the ready: knitting, reading, hiding, and so much more. I feel like my entire life has prepared me to deal with this holiday.
Wow, I ramble on pretty long sometimes. Wish me luck!
Greene
Enough about tradition! Let us examine the present. I am still finishing the dang afghan, not much progress since last time I wrote. I have finished my Christmas shopping. All that is left is the wrapping. The thing about buying presents: it's a crapshoot. You could go and buy something on the list they have published, or you could be creative and try to match their tastes without getting them something they expect. I do the first, mostly. Dad does the second. Getting something people love is hard, getting them something they hate is about the same, the middle of the road ("Oh, that's nice") is the easiest to attain.
Gifts are not the end-all and be-all of the season, and treating them as such is folly. But if they aren't, what is?
I realize some people don't like their family. My older sister can only stand us for a few days before retreating to her home four hours away. However, what is life without relationships? The group, herd, pack, family is the reason any human is alive today, and on some level we know that. It is our nature to be with others, and so we celebrate that in the middle of winter, when we really need a pick me up. That's my interpretation of this crazy ritual, anyway. I refuse to be overly stressed out about cookies, dinner, or presents. The traffic (so many people!) is what kills me.
My sister is coming in tonight, rather late. That is her tradition. It goes along with one holiday with her family, the other with her fiance's. We have plans. The parents are going to Florida. There may be lots of fun, cooking, movies, etc. Or this could get rather stressful. We will see. I have many 'escape' plans at the ready: knitting, reading, hiding, and so much more. I feel like my entire life has prepared me to deal with this holiday.
Wow, I ramble on pretty long sometimes. Wish me luck!
Greene
